Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh has decided not to move forward with plans to build a Fairfax music venue dubbed Terrapin Crossroads.

Bruce Burman, the project's manager, made the announcement in a brief email message Tuesday night. He said Lesh and his wife, Jill, were on tour on the East Coast and unavailable for comment.

Burman wrote on their behalf: "After careful consideration we have decided not to move forward with Terrapin Crossroads in Fairfax. For all of you that have supported our efforts and helped to define the vision, we are extremely grateful. Phil looks forward to making music and creating a community gathering place sooner rather than later."

Burman declined to elaborate when asked for additional information on the Leshes' plans.

Lesh had proposed construction of an 8,250-square-foot "music barn" at 2000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Fairfax. The plan called for a two-story wooden and glass barn-like building on the site of a former gas station and auto repair shop, next to the Good Earth Organic & Natural Foods store.

Lesh, 71, put the project on hold after someone posted signs reading "No Terrapin, Please," along his normal morning walking route near his home in Ross.

Notified of the announcement minutes before election polls closed Tuesday night, Fairfax Mayor Larry Bragman said, "I regret we were not given the opportunity of going through the process with them. I think that is a real loss for the community. I really do."

Bragman said he had heard rumors that Lesh had decided not to move forward in Fairfax but had received no word from Lesh. He said, "I think it's certainly worth reaching out to them and trying to see if there is anything we can do, any common ground that we can firm up or bridges that we can build to get them to reconsider."